Accounting

Graduate Certificate

The graduate certificate in Accounting is designed to provide professional development opportunities for mid-career accounting professionals in industry, consulting, and government. This online graduate program is designed to enhance your existing accounting knowledge through better understanding of advanced accounting topics. This online certificate program also offers you the opportunity to fulfill the education requirements to sit for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam.

Please note that sitting for and passing the CPA exam does not guarantee licensure in any state. The CPA exam is a state-by-state license and each state requires different courses for licensure. As such, it is your responsibility to find the specific course work that your state’s Board of Accountancy requires for licensure. View State Requirements.

Program Courses

The curriculum for this program follows industry trends to help ensure relevancy to today's marketplace. View all courses.

Program Objectives

In addition to the institutional and degree level learning objectives, graduates of this program are expected to achieve these learning outcomes:

Demonstrate the ability to apply and synthesize the functional areas of accounting to make sound business decisions.

Access, utilize, and evaluate accounting information in business decision-making.

An APU admissions representative will contact you with further details about how to submit the required documentation after you complete the enrollment application.

Need help?

Selecting the right program to meet your educational goals is a key step in ensuring a successful outcome. If you are unsure of which program to choose, or need more information, please contact an APU admissions representative at 877-755-2787 or info@apus.edu.

State Requirements

Coursework for this degree program may or may not satisfy the educational requirements for a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam in your state, depending upon your state of residency. For more information, see the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy website.

Texas: Under the rules of the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy, at least 15 hours of upper-level accounting course work must result from physical attendance at classes meeting regularly on the campus of the transcript-issuing institution. Completion of this accounting program and coursework may not meet the education requirements to sit for the CPA exam or obtain a CPA license in Texas. Individuals wishing to sit for the CPA exam or obtain a CPA license in Texas should check with the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy to determine eligibility.

Paying for School

Because our university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), (the same as the Ohio State University, Univ. of Chicago, and U.S. Air Force Academy, to name a few), we can accept the following forms of financial aid and payments:

Ways to Save

Undergraduate Book Grant

Books are provided online at no cost if you are enrolled in undergraduate courses for credit. The undergraduate book grant is estimated to save $600 per academic semester* if you are registered as a full-time student.

Transfer Credits

Accelerate your degree completion by taking full advantage of our transfer credit options, including credit for your previous college courses, military service schools, American Council on Education (ACE) and College Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests, and prior learning experiences.

Employer Contributions

APU has educational partnerships with many employers and associations. Be sure to accurately enter your employer information when you complete our admissions application. Your employer might also offer a tuition reimbursement plan as one of your benefits.

Wondering where this degree could take you?

School of Business

This program resides in the American Public University School of Business, where 18 of our 26 degree programs have earned specialized accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). This distinction does not come easy! To earn ACBSP accreditation, programs need to demonstrate quality in the areas of teaching excellence, student learning outcomes, and a continuous improvement. On top of this, our accounting degree programs have also earned the prestigious ACBSP Specialized Accounting Accreditation.

APU School of Business courses are taught online by real-world practitioners who strive to bring expert knowledge and relevancy to our students. With input from industry advisory councils, the School of Business regularly examines and updates curriculum and introduces new programs such as our in-demand degrees in business analytics and our new Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam preparation certificate.

At APU, we understand your need for flexibility because most of our students are working adult learners attending school around work and other life commitments. This is why we offer 8-week or 16-week online courses that start monthly. Through an online virtual classroom, you’ll communicate with students and professors in forum communities as you work to complete your weekly written assignments on your own schedule from anywhere in the world. And with our mobile application, you can even work offline and upload your assignments when you reconnect.

American Public University System (APUS) is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Public Education, Inc. (APEI). Pursuant to a contractual arrangement, APEI provides certain services for the benefit of APUS, subject to APUS oversight and ultimate authority. Pursuant to a license, APEI may use APUS’s trademarks and other intellectual property in its performance of those services. American Public University System, American Public University, and American Military University are not affiliated with American University or the U.S. Military.